Our Story
The Sligo Scholars Program is a fellowship that connects students from the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California, with the vibrant literary heritage of Sligo, Ireland. Each summer, selected scholars attend the Yeats International Summer School (YISS)—a ten-day immersion into the life, works, and legacy of W.B. Yeats. During their time in Sligo, students engage in lectures, seminars, poetry readings, cultural excursions, and local artistic events, gaining firsthand insight into the literary community that shaped one of Ireland’s greatest poets.
Founded by Ned Leiba to honor and remember Seamus Heaney—Ned’s freshman English instructor at UC Berkeley and the 1995 Nobel laureate in Literature—the program began in 2017, sending its first three student fellows to the 58th YISS. Since then, the program has expanded, working closely with university partners, sponsors, and dedicated administrators who guide scholars throughout their journey. From travel arrangements and accommodations to preparatory sessions and on-site support, we ensure that each scholar can focus on intellectual growth, cultural exploration, and building connections within an international network of writers and academics.
This year, we will be attending the 66th Yeats International Summer School and look forward to further growing the Sligo Scholars community. If you are an administrator at a school and would like to collaborate or offer this transformative literary experience to your students, we encourage you to reach out. We welcome the chance to share the spirit of artistic exchange and academic excellence with an ever-broadening circle of learners.
“The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.”
W.B. Yeats
Learn more about the Yeats International Summer School from the Yeats Society Sligo.
Have questions about this program? Contact us at admin@sligoscholars.com.
